Pressure-applied lid for canned beverages

ABSTRACT

An improved pressure-applied lid for cans containing beverages that can be opened by pulling on a tab includes a handle facing upward when not in use for facilitating detachment of the lid. The handle is joined at its base to the rim of the lid. The lid further includes prepared tear-off lines located at the position of the handle that cause breakages in its walls when the handle is pulled to remove the lid, indicating that the lid has been opened for partial consumption of the beverage, even if the lid has then been replaced on the can.

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10/149,808, filed on Jun. 14, 2002.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The invention relates generally to packaging for canned beverages.

[0003] The cans containing beverages that can be drunk through an aperture created by using a tab to tear off an area prepared for this purposed in the top of the can are used daily worldwide. One great drawback to this type of can is that is top surface is not protected in any way against dirt that can accumulate on it during storage and transport. Furthermore, once the can is opened, it is practically impossible to close it again to prevent deterioration or spilling of the contents still remaining in the can.

[0004] These cans have a cylindrical body with a frustoconical top and a cylindrical end, closed by a headpiece with a U-shaped rim that fits into the cylindrical end remaining in a raised position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a protective lid that is applied by pressure to cans for beverages. The protective lid of the present invention has shapes and dimensions corresponding to the shape and dimensions of the top of the can; a sealing rib that makes contact with the end of the raised U-shaped rim of the headpiece; a handle starting from the rim of the lid and extending toward its top; and prepared tear-off lines that start from the rim of the lid at the position of the handle so that breakage occurs along those lines when the handle is pulled to detach the cover and drink some or all of the beverage.

[0006] In one embodiment, the handle is joined to the rim of the lid by two arms at a reciprocal distance to create a hole in which a finger of a hand can be inserted.

[0007] In another embodiment, the prepared tear-off lines are placed at the two sides of each arm.

[0008] In a further embodiment, the handle is fixed to one section of the rim of the lid, joined to the lid itself by a radial tear-off line that, starting from the rim of the lid at one end of the handle, joins onto another prepared tear-away line parallel to the rim and extending toward and beyond the other end of the handle.

[0009] In yet another embodiment, the handle has a continuous wall presenting means for assisting the hand to take hold of it.

[0010] The present invention offers obvious advantages over known devices. The top of the can is protected against pollution caused by dirt accumulating during storage and transport. If, after a first drink has been taken, the lid is put back on, the parts of the walls of the lid, broken through for initial detachment, clearly indicate that the lid has been removed. This avoids any undesired consumption that might be concealed by replacement of the lid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011]FIG. 1 shows the top of a can for beverages of the type opened by a tear-off tab in a partially cut away side view;

[0012]FIG. 2 shows an enlarged detailed of the subject of FIG. 1;

[0013]FIG. 3 shows the protective lid of the present invention on the top of a can, as seen in FIG. 1, in cross section;

[0014]FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail of the subject of FIG. 3;

[0015]FIG. 5 shows the top of the can in FIG. 1, with the protective lid in place as in FIG. 3, in a partially cut away side view;

[0016]FIG. 6 is an enlarged detail of the subject of FIG. 5;

[0017]FIG. 7 shows the top of the can in FIG. 5, turned to show the handle on the lid in perspective view;

[0018]FIG. 8 shows the subject of FIG. 7 when the handle has been raised to detach the lid in perspective view;

[0019]FIG. 9 shows the top of the can with the lid, showing a first alternative embodiment of the handle in perspective view;

[0020]FIG. 10 shows the subject of FIG. 9 when the handle has been raised to detach the lid in perspective view;

[0021]FIG. 11 shows the top of the can with the lid showing a second alternative embodiment of the handle in perspective view; and

[0022]FIG. 12 show the subject of FIG. 11 after partial detachment of the handle during removal of the lid in perspective view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] The can 10 of the common type containing a beverage 15, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, comprises a cylindrical body 11 with a frustoconical mouth 12 and a cylindrical end 13. The top of the can is sealed by the rounded head 20 with a substantially U-shaped rim 21 facing inward. The cylindrical end 13 of the cylindrical body 11 fits inside the U-shaped rim 21. Situated on the headpiece of the can 10 is the tab 25 which, when pulled, creates an aperture through which the beverage is drunk.

[0024] The protective lid 30 of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, has a shape and dimensions which correspond to those of the top of the can 10 and is made of substantially elastic material. The lid includes a rounded base 31, a cylindrical peripheral channel 32 facing inward, and a frustoconical mouth 33 corresponding to the top of the can 10.

[0025] An internal rib 35 of a semicircular cross section lies close to the start of the frustoconical mouth 33. On the outside of the lid 30, a handle 40 is provided. The handle includes a hole 41 and connection 42 to the rim of the lid, facing toward the top of the lid substantially in contact with its frustoconical wall. On either side of the handle are prepared, radial tear-off lines 44, 45 (FIG. 7) extending to a point at a short distance from the top of the lid.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 5, the lid 30, placed on the top of the can 10, is held in place by the rib 35 that makes contact against the end of the U-shaped rim 21 of the headpiece 20. To consume the contents of the can, the lid must obviously be removed.

[0027] To remove the lid 30, pulling on the handle 40 causes breakage 47, 48 (FIG. 8) of the prepared tear-off lines 44, 45 (FIG. 7), which causes an elastic expansion of the lid in relation to the top of the can, thereby detaching it.

[0028]FIGS. 9 and 10 show a lid 50 with a first alternative version 52 of the handle, the difference being that the prepared tear-off lines 58, 59 are situated at the position of each arm 54, 55 of the handle 52. The double tear-off lines 62, 64 (FIG. 10) facilitate detachment of the lid when the handle is pulled.

[0029]FIGS. 11 and 12 show a lid 70 with a second alternative version 72 of the handle in the position of the prepared tear-off lines 74, 75. Line 74, beginning from the rim of the lid, at one side of the handle, extends in a radial direction as far as line 75 parallel to the rim that continues fro a certain distance beyond the other side of the handle. Pulling on the handle 72 causes breakage of the prepared tear-off lines 74, 75 that tear away at lines 78 and 79.

[0030] It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

[0031] While the invention has been illustrated and described herein as an improved pressure-applied lid for canned beverages, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

[0032] Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.

[0033] What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims. 

I claim:
 1. A protective pressure-applied lid for a top of a can for beverages, comprising: an internal sealing rib, wherein said internal sealing rib makes contact against an end of a U-shaped rim of a headpiece that closes a body of the can; a handle, wherein said handle originates at a rim of the lid and extends toward a top of the lid; prepared tear-off lines, wherein said tear-off lines originate at the rim of the lid proximate to the handle, wherein said tear-off lines break when the handle is pulled to detach the lid for partial consumption of the beverage, and wherein said lid comprises a shape and has dimensions corresponding to a shape and dimensions of the top of the can.
 2. The lid as defined in claim 1, wherein the handle is joined to the rim of the lid by two lateral arms at a reciprocal distance so as to create a hole in which a finger of a user's hand can be inserted, wherein the tear-off lines are formed to facilitate breakage at two sides of each arm.
 3. The lid as defined in claim 1, wherein the handle is fixed in a section of the rim of the lid joined to said lid by a first, radial tear-off line, wherein said radial tear-off line originates at the rim of the lid at a first end of the handle and connects with a second prepared tear-off line running parallel to the rim of the lid, wherein said second prepared tear-off line continues toward and beyond a second end of the handle.
 4. The lid as defined in claim 1, wherein the handle has a continuous wall and means for facilitating gripping of the handle by fingers of a hand. 